Automatic impulse transmitter



y--Feh 2.8, 1928. 1,661,012

v H. PFANNENSTIEHL v AUTOMATIC IMPULSE TRANSMITTER Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY P FANNENSTIEHL; OF MAPLEXVOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F NEW YORK, Y., A CORPORATION OI NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC IMPULSE TRANSMITTER.

Application filed May 29, 1922. Serial No. 564,525.

This invention relates to automatic impulse transmitters and particularly to an automatic transmitter in which the transmission of the impulses is controlled by a perforated tape.

An object of the invention is to provide an automatic tape transmitter in which the operations incident to the transmission of signaling impulses are performed mechanically.

Another object is the provision of means for restoring the line to normal following the transmission of a group of character signals and for altering the condition of the line immediately prior to the transmission of a group of character signals.

Another object is means for automatically interrupting the transmission of message impulses under the control of the tension of the tape Without causing mutilation of such im ulses.

nother object is an automatic tape transmitter which is simple, compact in construc tion and reliable and efficient in operation.

The above objects are accomplished by the provision of an automatic impulse transmitter utilizing a single transmitting conact which is operated through the instrumentalities of a series of levers under the control of slidable members which are 'arranged to engage perforations in a previously perforated tape. The operation of the operating members is performed mechanically through a series of cams so arranged as to operate the single transmitting Contact in succession in accordance with the perforations in the perforated tape. Automatic start and stop mechanism under the control of the tension of the tape is provided for automatically starting and stopping the transmitter when the tape becomes tcnsioned thereby preventing `they breaking of the tape as well as relieving the perforating operator of the necessity of watching the tape.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with a portion of the casing removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ot the mechanism with the top partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the broken line 3-3'of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 is a view of' a'detail of the transmitter; 4

Fig. 5 is a detail View of the transmitter showing the operating members in one of their operating positions;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing 4 the operating members in the other of their operating positions.

The mechanism is supported on a base 6 and is preferably lenclosed -in a metallic casing 7. A number of pedestals 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, which may be formed integral with or secured to the base 6, furnish supports for the moving parts of the transmitter mechanism. Two bridge pieces 14 and 15 are secured to a portion of the pedestal 13 and carry adjustable contact points 16 and 17 arranged opposite each other. The contact point 16 is electrically connected by any suitable means to one terminal of a. source of direct current While the contact point 17 is similarly connected to the other terminal of such source of direct current. Between the contact points 16 and 17 is a movable current reversing element comprising a spring member 18 secured to a pedestal 19 and movable upon the rotation of a bail 28 formed of a pair of bell crank levers 23 and 24 rotatably mounted on a shaft 26. The opposite ends of bell crank levers 23 and 24 have secured thereto, rods 22 and 29, the former of which is in operative relation with an insulating portion 27 secured to the spring member 18. For engaging the contact point 17, an auxiliary spring 20 is secured to the spring member 18 by means of rivets or other similar method of attaching. In order to limit the downward travel of the bail 28, a rod 25 extending between the horizontal projecting portions of the pedestals 12 and 13 1s provided.

The position of the receivin element or movable member 18 is regulated by a mechanism controlled by the perforations in a previously perforated tape 53. The rod 29 has pivoted thereto at spaced intervals, operating members 30,31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 eachof which is composed of a portion 37 and 38. The free end of the portion 38 normally engages a projection 56 on a slidable vmember 55, there being such a member properforated tape 53 which is perforated in accordance with the desired signals to be transmitted.

For actuating the operating members 30 to 35 inclusive, in accordance with the perforations in the tape, a battery of cams positioned with respect to the portions 37 and 38 so 'as to operate such members consecutively, 'is provided. These cams are secured to a shaft 41 to which power is conununicated from a source of motive power supplied to a shaft 45. Secured to the free end of the shaft 45 is a worm wheel 44 which engages teeth in a vgear wheel 43 secured to the shaft 41. Rigidly secured to the shaft 4l and on one side of the gear wheel 43 is a circular disk of metal 46 which has dis-4 posed on one side thereof and inl engagement with a surface of the gear wheel 43, a disk of friction material 47. Likewise disposed on the other side of the gear wheel 43 is a disk of friction material 48 which is held in frietional engagement with the gear wheel 43 by a metal disk 49. The latter disk is tensioned against the friction disk 48 b 'a helical spring 5t), the tension of whicli maybe varied by the movement of a lock nut 51 adjustably mounted on the shaft 41.

When a perforation in the tape 53 is brought into alignment with a slidable member 55, this member upon the engagement of the associated cam with the operating member corresponding to the particular slidable member selected, is elevated as shown in Figure 5. Consequentl the bail 28 is not operated for actuating t 1e current reversing member 18 and accordingly an impulse of a negative polarity is impressed on the line conductor for this particular selection. In order that the slidable members 55 which have been elevated in the manner previously described may be restored to their normal position in engagement with rod 57 following the transmission of a gioup of impulses, an auxiliary set of cams such as 58 are provided. These cams engage portion 37 of the operating members thereby functioning to restore not only the slidablc members 55 to normal but also the corresponding members. Those of the members 55, however,before whose end no perforation appears are held down by the tape and the movable contact lfj is operated in the manner described below. When, any of the slidable members is held in its depressed position, because of the fact that the end thereof has engaged an .unperforated area of the tape, the members 55 are not elevated upon the engagement of the corresponding cam with the .operating member individual to the particular slidable member 55. As shown in Fig. 6 the bail 28 is thereby caused to rotate about shaft 26 for moving the current reversing member 18 out cf engagement with Contact 16 and moving contact spring member 20 into engagement with Contact 17. In this manner, a current im pulse of a positive polarity will be transmitted to the connected line conductor.

When the transmitter is used in connection with printing telegraph systems operating on the start-stop principle, it -is necessary for the contacts to be operated invariably at the commencement of each signal period. In order to provide for this, the operating member 32 is yarranged in conjunction with a fixed stop so as to actuate the bail E28 upon each revolution of the shaft 41. The associated am therefor is positioned with respect to the otherl cams so as to operate this member receding the transmission of a number o selecting impulses, thus serving to transmit a start impulse and also closes the Contact following the transmission of a group of impulses, thereby sending a stop impulse for restoring the system to its normal condition.

In order that the tape 53 may be advanced following the operation of the transmitting contact in accordance with the perforations in the tape, suitable tape advancing means is provided. Such means comprises a feed wheel 61 secured to a rotatable shaft 62. The

`teeth in the feed wheel 61 are arranged to engage feed holes 60 in the tape 53. Rigidly secured to one end ofthe shaft 62 is a ratchet wheel 63 which is arranged to be rotated through the instrumentality of a pawl operated mechanism. This pawl operated mechanism is operated from an eccentric 65 secured to the shaft 41 and operates a lever 64 to which the operating pawl of the ratchet wheel 63 is secured. For cach revolution of the eccentric. 65 the lever 64 is moved into a position such as to cause the operating pawl secured thereto tov engage the next succeeding tooth in the ratchet wheel 63. Following this operation, the lever 64, which is held by a helical spring 66 in a position such that the stepping pawl engages the teeth in the, ratchet wheel 63. is moved positively' by the action of a portion of the eccentric to cause the advancement of the ratchet wheel 63 through a distance equal to that of one tooth. Similarly, the'tape 53 will be advanced by the tape feed wheel 61 due to its 'engagement with the feed holes 60 in this tape for aligning with the slidable members 55 the next succeeding group of perforations.

Mechanism is also provided for automatically stopping and starting the transmitter when the tension of the tape between the transmitter and the perforator, shown diagrammati ally at 54', increases or decreases. Nith such an arrangement it is unnecessary for a perforating operator to constantly watch the operation of the transmitter. The perforating operation of the tape may cease tlf) ipe-1,0m

without danger of breaking'the tape between the perforator and transmitter, and thereby causing mutilation of signals. This mechanism comprises a tape control lever. 75 rotatably mounted on a sha-ft 76. Extending transversely of the tape 53 and secured to one end of the tape control lever75 is a member'77. The other end of the lever 75 has secured thereto a pin 78 which engages the arms of the bifurcated portion of a niember 79. The member 79 like the lever 75 is rotatably mounted on a shaft or pin 80, but is held in an inclined position by a retractile spring 81. The Iupward movement of the member 79 is limited by a stop 83. When thetension of the tape 53 increases to a point whereby the member 77 is lifted, thereby causing the ymovement of the end of the tape lever 75 carrying the pin 78 in a downward direction, the reverse movement of the meinber 79 is produced. The lfree end of the member 79 is thereby moved into the path of a projection 82 carried by a disk secured to the shaft 41.- As previously described, the gear wheel k43`is dri :en through the friction y disks 47 and 48 ldisposed on opposite sidesl thereof. `Thus, when projection 82 engages i thefree vend of the member 79, the battery of cams which o crate the operating members 30 to 35 inc usive will be stopped, for

in turn causing the cessation of t e transmiion of impulses over the line conductor.

Should the tension on the ta 53 be lesscned -to such an extent as to a low the tape control member 7 5 to assume its normal position, the member 79 will be moved out of the y path. of stop' 82. yBy,'thisoperatiom the batter y of 'cams lwillbe released for operation j an the transmitter will continue to func- -tion as previously described.

` What is claimed is:

vautomatically starting the transmitter.

2. In an automatic tape transmitter, a

Vperforated ta a single transmittingscontact, means or actuating said contact in raccordance with perforations in said tape,

' and mechanically operated means under the control ofthe tape for automatically starting and stoppingtlie transmitters.

3. In com ination, av perforatedtape, an automatic transmitter-through which said tape is designedto pass, comprising a single transmitting contact, mechanically operated means foractu'atng said-c0ntactin accordance with the perforatonsin'said-tapc, and a tape lever controlledl by the tension of the 4.11m combination, a perforated tape, an

controlled members.

transmittingr contact, mechanically operated means for actuating said contact in accord-v ance with the perforations in said. tape, and a tape lever controlled by the tension of the tape to mechanically', start and stopA the instrumentalities of mechanical movements for automatically transmitter.

6. An automatic tape transmitter comprisinga singlel transmitting Contact, a plurality stopping and starting the Aof tape controlled members regulating the actuation of said contact, means for` operating said contact in accordance with the positioning of said tape controlled members, and y mechanically operated means for restoring the tape controlled members to normal position which are elevated due to a perforation being. aligned therewith.

7. .In an automatic impulse transmitter, a

single transmitting contact, a plurality of tape controlled members for controlling the actuation of said contact, ran operating bail arranged in operative relation with said contact, a mechanical linkage between said bail and tape controlled members, and mechanically operated means for acting on said linka for operating said bail in accordance with the positiony of said tape controlled members.

8. In an automatic impulse transmitter, a single transmitting contact, a pluralitY of tape controlled members, a bail contro ling the actuation of said contact, an operating member individual to and operativel associated with each of the tape controlledv meinbers and connected with said bail, and a plurality of rotatable cams for acting on said operating members for actuating said contact through the instrumentality of said bail in' accordance with the position of said tape 9. In an'automatic impulse transmitter, a single tansmitting contact, a Aplurality of 4tape controlled .members for controlling the actuation of said contact, a bailarranged in operative relation with said contact, an operatn vmember individual to each of the' controlle members and connected with said bail', a rotating shaft, and a pluralityof cams secured toisaid shaft, one corresponding-to each of the'operating members for operating said members in succession whereby said contact is actuated through the instrumenx10. -In an automatic impulse transmitter, a

ruit

I "tality'fof' said bail inaccordance with the' y 0 v y `position of sald tapeco'ntrolled` members. automatic transmitter :through which said f tape is designed to pass, comprising a single A,

tape controlled members for controlling the actuation of said contact, a bail arranged in operative relation with said contact, an operating member individual to each of the controlled members and connected with said bail, a rotatin shaft, a plurality of cams secured to sai shaft, one corresponding to each of the operating members for operating said members in succession whereby said contact is actuated through the instrumentality of said bail in accordance with the'position of said tape controlled members, and means under the control of the tape for automatically stopping the rotation of said cams.

11. In an automatic impulse transmitter, a single transmitting Contact, a plurality of tape controlled members for controlling the actuation of said contact, a bail arranged inoperative relation with said contact, an operating member individual to each of the'con trollcd members and connected with ysaid bail, a rotating shaft, a plurality of cams secured to said shaft, one corresponding to each of the operating members for o eratin said members in succession where y sai contact is actuated through the instrumentality of said bail in accordance with the position of said tape controlled members, means under the control of the tape for automatically stopping the rotation of said cams, and mechanically operated means under the control of the tension of the tape for automatically releasing the cams for operation.

12. In an automatic impulse transmitter, a single transmitting contact, a plurality of tape controlled members, ayplurality of cam operated levers operable to move the tape controlled members through perforations in the tape and withdraw them therefrom, a bail member connected to and common to the plurality of levers to move the single transmitting contact, a cam shaft, a plurality of cams on the cam shaft to o crate the levers, an eccentric on the cam s ait and a pawl on the eccentric to move `the tape, a lever system controlled by tensiontof the tape to auomatically stop the operation of the transmitter when excessive tension is exerted on the tape and to automatically start the transmitter when the excessive tension on the tape is released.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of May A. D., 1922.

HARRY PFANNENSTIEHL. 

